Covid got into rest homes

The report also revealed that staff experienced ‘‘considerable stress’’ because of the extra vigilance, longer working hours, misinformation, isolation, reputation and the stigmatisation of the disease.

Staff turnover dropped during the four weeks of lockdown, as did absenteeism and sickness, and communication and resources provided to ASR providers were at times confusing.

Some noted a lack of PPE leading into the pandemic which forced staff to operate without it and ARC facilities that experienced the virus felt there was a ‘‘takeover’’ by public health experts who had little understanding of the work required in an aged-care facility.

The panel noted that before the pandemic, the concept of outbreaks, clusters, probable versus proven cases and other epidemiological terminology were never a part of ARC day-today operations.

The health ministry said the key focus of the review was to improve systems to prevent any future experiences and was not putting any blame on staff.

‘‘No blame is being attributed to any staff involved.’’

‘‘As the review acknowledges, a source of stress for staff was uncertainty around knowing who had the virus, and we repeatedly called for testing of all staff and residents to address this, which was denied by the ministry.’’

NZACA chief executive Simon

Wallace welcomed the findings, particularly the acknowledgement of the work done by their sector managing the virus.

They had been calling for many of the recommendations in the report, including the development of a nationally co-ordinated outbreak management plan, access to supplies of PPE, support for staff and testing. In fact as the review points out, the Moh’s initial focus with the pandemic was on hospitals rather than aged residential care.’’

‘‘A source of stress for staff was uncertainty around knowing who had the virus.’’ Ministry of Health